How to Measure Camber Caster and Toe - Alignment

www.pathfinders4x4.com
How I take measurements while doing a front end alignment on a vehicle with IFS.

[@0713pnguyen]

Watched dozens of videos on alignments. By far, this was the most informative and practical video. Your explanation of how to estimate caster is superb!

[@19sloper]

Excellent! Clear, concise, simple, to-the-point, and no music. Thanks very much for the helpful post.

[@pathfinders4x477]

Thanks for the kind words... and YW. You might enjoy checking out another channel of mine... proscllc Mostly flight.

[@MrTouge240]

After watching tons of videos this is absolutely the most informative not only on how to measure caster effectively and why it is measured that way but also how to adjust it and how that affects things like camber. I was in the market for a Quick Trick Alignment Tool which I may still get just because I think it's a cool tool and could help but I just wanted to say thank you to such an informative video.

[@macfarrelljr3698]

Very good video. No wasted time, very easy to understand, all the information needed and none of the bs. I've been looking at many videos on alignment lately, trying to put together the best of everyone's methods... this video was very, very helpful and explained caster more simply than I've seen elsewhere. Thank you, great video.

[@wayneries5970]

No nonsense tutorial, straight to business, very educational. Thank you very much. I've used thin magazines under the wheels to accommodate wheel movement on concrete, but I like the plastic bags with oil better. There is a lot of engineering and science behind these three adjustments (caster, camber and toe), and each vehicle utilizes this technology uniquely. Be patient, prepare your work, and you'll get through it with fine results. Blessings, Wayne.

[@rjinnh3933]

Well done vid. Simple, straight forward, no BS and no MUSIC!!! I've used both plastic bags on smooth surfaces and 1ft ceramic tiles on gravel surfaces with success. Poster provides good content in a well produced vid.

[@pathfinders4x477]

Thanks!

[@bradjunes1610]

The 1/16th toe in is perfect. Taught from the masters of 1940's and 50's. Best gas mileage and steering for cars and trucks I've been told.

[@Coloradosweddingdj]

After spending a lot of time watching other videos, this was hands down the easiest, most well explained video on alignment! Well done!

[@pathfinders4x477]

Great! Glad it helped!!

[@ryanelliott2626]

All these videos make it so complicated like it's a big deal. You sir make it seem so simple especially the caster part. Thank you

[@Lonewolf3165]

He’s dead wrong on most of what he’s saying but especially when he talks about Caster.

[@rschulzeable]

Excellent. This saved me from screwing up an alignment that was within spec. I am prepping my 4runner for larger tires; trimming stuff, lift kit, different mud flaps.... I still needed some positive caster to move the tire a bit forward. After doing so I was doing a horrible job checking caster and was ready to make an adjustment. I remembered seeing this video and went back and watched again. I had a piece of "L" iron (aluminum) and cut to size and used my phone to check. One was on 90 even and the other was on 89 flipping to 90 if I fudged with the aluminum at all, it was that close. Good enough.... ! You saved me a hassle. I'll check my toe in next

[@markschuyler3768]

Best video out of dozens on the subject! Thank you!

[@bendude6748]

I use vinyl flooring tiles with grease sandwiched between them for the wheels to move on, works great

[@jeremysparks4570]

Damn good idea..

[@bendude6748]

@@jeremysparks4570 it’s amazing how creative you get when you’re on a budget lol

[@jeremysparks4570]

@@bendude6748 right..

[@flintcoat2596]

Great video! Your idea with the plastic bags and oil is absolutely ingenious!

[@scoopy2899]

Thank you so much for clear and concise video. No music to my deaf ears was great also. I'm going to start putting on the lock ease or WD as soon as I get off the phone. Wish there were more like you. Thanks again

[@Mr.Stud.Puffin]

Best video I've seen for an easy DIY alignment. Thanks for this.

[@rlachermeier]

One of the best explanations on how and why to measure caster angle. Thanks

[@chrismktgpsu]

Great straight forward explanation!

[@michaelcarlson4932]

I agree, your explanation simplified the process, thank you.

[@pathfinders4x477]

Yeah, alignments shouldn't be mysterious. YW

[@danieljones5056]

Wow that was easiest diy video to understand!! Very much appreciate you taking the time to make this excellent video

[@markleong4580]

Well explained layman language!!! Thanks a lot Pal, well done!

[@pauljanssen2624]

Great video well done well executed best video I've seen in a long time good work

[@pathfinders4x477]

Thank you ;)

[@CopeManMTNDEW]

Great video. My 90 toyota pickup is in need of a front end rebuild. Going to use these methods. Great video🤘

[@bearwhocares9539]

Master of his craft. Thanks for the vid!

[@lisasolan5201]

Very good description of how it works. Science!

[@daviddunigan8823]

Best DIY video I’ve found. Thanks

[@brentbradley6711]

Been doing this for MANY years and the string for the toe. Just use a 2" level on the tire next to bulge. Works PERFECTLY!

[@dbristolx4684]

If I might suggest using two pieces of sheet metal like 12”x12”, apply plenty of grease between them. They work better than plastic bags. Regardless, this video was a great learning tool. Thanks!

[@hendricks026]

I was going to make this suggestion too. working in the crash testing world, we slip plates like this underneath all 4 wheels to be able to dial in the final position of the vehicles, pushing it one way or another upto an inch or two by hand.

[@NicholasRiviera-Dr]

We do this in the aircraft industry when playing with the nose wheel steering system

[@soulmuzings8844]

Great video!! found you through suggested videos. I just started a KZbin Channel not long ago and very interested in the human evolution and spirituality topic. Keep following your passion and creating great content. Sending you good vibes and lots of love 💖

[@pathfinders4x477]

Thanks!

[@TheBigblockv8]

Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge. With ways to check it all out from home. Your info was clear to understand, to the point, relevant and enjoyable to watch. You have had so many views but such little subscription. What a rip off! Oh well you got one more subscriber today mate.

[@pathfinders4x477]

Thanks for your kind words!

[@andando_huellas]

Excellent idea!!! You are a genius!!!

[@bubbap8595]

Thank you so much. Very good explanation

[@joeyjed6842]

Stellar video and tutorial!! Thanks

[@pathfinders4x477]

YW! Thanks for stopping by.

[@anamnesiser]

Fantastic explanation bravo sir and thank you!

[@pathfinders4x477]

YW! Glad to hear you found it helpful.

[@pathfinders4x477]

YW! Glad to hear you found it helpful.

[@haunted_.]

Never thought to use a tape measure for toe... Genius!!!!

[@pathfinders4x477]

Thanks!

[@KissmyBasss]

Very well explained, I have adjusted toe-in on a couple of cars. It would've gone faster with the bags!

[@zoldrin]

Amazing video, thank you very much

[@jeremyr7147]

Even after years doing alignments on machines. It still gets confusing using ruler mm measurments when it's been a few months since doing a truck by hand on the ground.. You simplified it well.

[@CHEECHMUN]

Very good explanation! Thank you..

[@pathfinders4x477]

YW!

[@QuickTrickTools]

Great video demo

[@tboneproductions2453]

Plastic bag idea is gold. Thanx

[@pathfinders4x477]

YW!

[@1ofhis518]

Great info. Thanks.

[@roy-whereamI]

Thanks for this, I learned a lot.

[@mrkttrdr2919]

great tips and tricks for the driveway mech for alignment specs

[@shovelrickshovelhead8713]

In a right hand drive we need 1 degree on the left hand wheel to compensate for road camber, good vid considering many charges for a alignment is never done ,

[@gastecconversionprofesiona4250]

Thanks... Great and easy with your video now. From Mexico¡

[@mohawg6635]

Excellent video!

[@garyandthebat]

Awesome vid. Thanks.

[@daleburton3591]

Thanks for a great video.

[@arvindpuryag8515]

Beautiful truck man❤

[@JohnWaid6Plus]

This is very helpful thanks

[@h2oboater]

Nice Video ....🙂🙂 Very well explained. 👍👍

[@jamesnewkirk1426]

Great video Thanks!

[@brianc6739]

Thank you so much!

[@davihazel3653]

Very cool man THANKS.

[@pathfinders4x477]

YW!! Thanks for the comment.

[@jb-ik8sj]

Very informative

[@sureshlingabathina]

Excellent

[@travissk5036]

Genius..Thankyou

[@bonkeydollocks1879]

Of course it helps to adjust it when your car is high up from the ground

[@oklahomacrabber]

Nice! Thanks

[@torismith9485]

your a genious

[@pathfinders4x477]

ha! Thanks ;)

[@skeet973]

Nice video

[@johnhavlik9496]

Thank you

[@robertmccully2792]

You can use the angel finder in your smartphone also.

[@shorelineflooring6266]

Great thank you 🎉

[@jonpaton4449]

Brilliant

[@pathfinders4x477]

Thanks!

[@Paul-ri8vc]

Awesome video! I use sheet metal and grease/oil for turn tables

[@caitlinvankooten8139]

This is great! Any tips for working on an uneven surface?

[@dano4572]

thank you so very much for making this easy..!!!! also..... very important!!! make sure you vehicle is sitting level,,meaning,, when looking from the front of the vehicle just by sight,, make sure it looks square to the ground,, and even measure certain points on the frame and get the vehicle "LEVEL"!!!!!!!! IF ITS SAGEN ON ONE SIDE ,,,FIX THAT!!!!!! SQUARE IT UP!!! i have a story of an alignment shop that did my chevy truck and it was low on the drivers front side,,,, and they said that was ok""""" WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WRONG!!!!!!!!!.... sorry,,, I'm done. ( I got screwed). ($80.oo.). now I'm done. luv this video! i squared out the truck in the end.( torsion bar keys bolts.). done.

[@jamesbeckwith780]

Been doing alignments for 30 years. Least caster pulls. Most camber pulls. Most ford specs are set up to 1/2 to 3/4 degree less caster on left wheel to compensate for road crown. Good video though, Should still have it checked on a computer machine as thrust angle plays a big part.

[@stevenweede7184]

So, if my truck is pulling right then it’s the passenger side geometry that’s off? The reason I ask is because I recently replaced my upper & lower control arms, tire rod end & ball joints on the drivers side. I thought maybe I just needed to back out my left tie rod a bit

[@jewllake]

So when the tire is turned full lock right, and you are measuring the passenger tire you will get the larger degree 89 and then full lock left it will be 88. So, on the left tire turned full lock to the left it should be about the same 89* and then 88* when turned full lock to the right. If the degrees were switched - would it mean you had negative caster?

[@robertbowen6610]

Sand works well also

[@jewllake]

I have a similar vehicle, a 06 GMC yukon. My left front wheel tip out slightly on top. If I adjust both camber bolts evenly to to bring the top of the wheel in slightly - is it safe to assume that I have not changed the caster settings?

[@pathfinders4x477]

In theory that'd be true, but you still want to measure it.

[@johnnygalvan1344]

On your tirods , can you tell me how many threads your out on both sides ‘ I didn’t mark them when I replaced one I can’t get my alignment right your tacoma has the same lift as mines

[@ginge3381]

when measuring the caster do you have your straight edge pium or to centre points of upper and lower ball joints?

[@GJJC13]

Nice video. I've seen that when calculating caster, some people multiply the by 1.5 the difference between the camber readings from left turn to right turn. Have you seen this?

[@NicholasRiviera-Dr]

Yes I have seen this. I don’t fully understand it but it has something to do with trigonometry. Caster is essentially a measurement of camber at two different angles of steering wheel angle - which is wheel (tyre) sweep. The calculation method has a formula and that is changed by 2 factors: * the total sweep of the wheel (tyre) left and right and * the difference in camber measurements from one side of the sweep to the other. In this video he used 20 degrees of sweep to the right and I can only assume 20 degrees sweep to the left. That is what he said in the video @6:10 for full lock to the right. Start with the steering wheel level and that is the zero position of the wheel (tyre). Put some sort of protractor device to measure degrees of turn and move the steering wheel so the tyre is turned out by 20 degrees. @6:35 he went to the right until full lock. Make a measurement of the camber and this is the starting point. If a digital protector is being used his would then be zeroed. He said 88.5 degrees but looked like it was positive camber (top of wheel out). Move the steering wheel the other way so the tyre is turned by 20 degrees to the left (assuming) and measure the camber, shown @6:46. The castor measurement was 87.5 degrees but the wheel looked like it had negative castor (top of wheel in). TOTAL SWEEP (tyre movement) is 40 degrees (20 degrees right and left from zero). DIFFERENCE IN CAMBER measurement is positive 88.5 degrees minus negative 87.5 degrees equals 3 degrees (remember in this video 90 degrees is the zero point). Maths, this is the formula: (180/3.14)/TOTAL SWEEP x DIFFERENCE IN CAMBER = castor Where 3.14 = pie (180/3.14)/40 x 3 = castor 4.3 degrees of castor. To answer your question about the 1.5, (180/3.14)/40 = 1.43. The assumption is that the TOTAL SWEEP is going to be about 40 degrees. If the total sweep is changed to a different number that is ok, just plug that number into the formula instead of the 40 and the 1.5 will become a different number. It’s hard to tell but unless the castor is dead on zero, as the tyre turns from full left to full right the camber will change from positive to negative (or vice versa). The guy in this video doesn’t quite catch that.

[@accordv6er]

​@@NicholasRiviera-DrI was going to say... His 1 degree is not spec for any ifs Toyota I'm aware of. With that tire and height most are going for 4.5deg or so, which sounds like he was right there. So his measurement is just a good relative measure to get to a good spec

[@cbain3070]

My truck was hit on the front driver side as the tire is straight , but on the passenger side the tire is toed in the garage says I need to replace the ball joints is this right . Great Video

[@pathfinders4x477]

Well... the ball joints could very well be destroyed now... but that's NOT what's causing the toe in. My guess (and that's all it is) is that one or both tie rods are bent due to the collision. That would cause an effective shortening... ie... toe in.

[@txsurfnturf]

Could it also be done by jacking up the front end, tires off, with the jacks placed under the lower control arm to simulate load, while making sure vehicle is level? (Just looking to create more work space.)

[@jessicaoswell7361]

Maybe I Misunderstood but did you say you can center the steering wheel by only adjusting one tie rod? I thought you had to adjust both to the center steering wheel.

[@proscllc]

It all depends upon whether or not toe-in needs adjustment. If your toe-in measurement is good, then adjust both equally in the same direction to center the steering wheel while keeping that measurement. If you need to adjust toe-in, then only do the one side to fix that and adjust the steering wheel at the same time.

[@davehoward3645]

On toe in if you don’t use any reference from the rear and only use front (tread) then one tire could be towing more than the other correct?

[@pathfinders4x477]

It will self center as you drive it. Steering wheel may then need adjustment but that's all.

[@jawadrishijk]

Good Infarmation sir I am Pakistan💯💗

[@matthewyoung6738]

Which phone app do you use for finding the angle?

[@pathfinders4x477]

I use Angle Meter on an Android.

[@outcast7899]

Someone suggested to use two linolium floor tiles with a little grease sandwiched between, probably works same as plastic bags and oil, my concern is, i need my mercedes up on stack of 2x12s to get under it and my driveway is is not level. It may slide off the blocks. Any suggestions M L Rogers Pasadena,Tx

[@johnnyherring4825]

So I have a 03 ranger 2wd I replaced the upper control arms and lower ball joints I took it in for a front end alignment and the camber bolts are still the way I put them I think he only adjusted the tierod ends I know they couldn't have been right cuz I just put them on knowing I was having it aligned the next day so I just put them on without even trying to get them close to what it was before and they are in the exact same position I put them in thats not right is it

[@pathfinders4x477]

Nope. Doesn't sound right to me.

[@rngwrm]

"angle finder app" - duh. why did i not think of this three tires ago?

[@murphytoadster9864]

Me and my dad would adjust, then back out and oull back in and check again

[@hughmcelveen94]

It's Jeff Gordon!!!!

[@joshholets4923]

I was thinking more like Martin Short.

[@hughmcelveen94]

@@joshholets4923 You mean Steve Martin.

[@joshholets4923]

Lol yes that's what I meant...lol

[@19sloper]

Given the angle readings, how do you tell whether the caster is positive or negative?

[@aftech7268]

U use a small piece of plywood for each wheel

[@jasunsmith9136]

If caster is off I know it causes pulling, but does it affect wear if camber and toe are within spec?

[@brettblack7049]

If it pulls you will have uneven wear. But if you rotate your tires often you may never notice if it's only a slight pull.

[@scottdowney4318]

Better to use digital angle finder. I found the Samsung phone is slightly off by about half a degree, and for phone measuring to 90 degrees it just can not quite get there, as in it is inaccurate and works better when measuring less angle. The analog round meter I have is also off by 1 degree, that is a very rough measurement tool. I calibrated the angle finder using a 4 foot spirit level set to dead perfect level. You want camber measurement to get as accurate as possible. Having the whole car level is extremely important. My choice for level tools is a spirit level or a digital angle finder well calibrated.

[@ClearWater7.62]

In your video it looks that caster affects toe.. the toe in, on my 97 t100 is maxed and too much negative caster might be the culprit. Thanks for explaining @2:00 min point

[@Dcelrod]

How do you know if the tow adjustment needs to be made on one wheel of the vehicle or if both front wheels need to be adjusted to get in spec?

[@pathfinders4x477]

The toe will self center when it's driven. This might cause the steering wheel to get cock-eyed, which can be straightened by adjusting the outer tie rods on both sides equally but opposite. If the steering wheel already needs to be straightened, you can adjust toe-in on only one side. This sometimes kills two birds with one stone. That's for IFS... solid axles are different as they use a collar to adjust the steering wheel.

[@Dcelrod]

@@pathfinders4x477 Thanks👍

[@NicholasRiviera-Dr]

Steering wheel needs to be centred first or the self centring will end up with a steering wheel that is crooked

[@jonathangriffith42069]

Aren’t you supposed to multiply the difference in camber by xx? turn angle 20 degrees each way = 1.43 x camber diff (commonly rounded up to 1.5) turn angle 15 degrees each way = 1.91 x camber diff (commonly rounded up to 2.0)

[@NicholasRiviera-Dr]

Agreed 👍 (180/3.14)/40 = 1.43 (180/3.14)/30 = 1.91

[@shawnsitter5390]

Is the concrete slab level?

[@sureshlingabathina]

At 7.55, correct me if I am wrong vehicle will pull towards the side with less positive (or more negative) caster. You have not specified positive or negative caster for pull at 7.55.

[@rudydrahovzal4655]

That's what I was taught, was doing alignments for 30 years

[@smokemirrors1531]

the caster talk - i understand.

[@mr_mnky]

great vid, but (possibly dumb) question: how can you make sure that the tires are pointing straight-ahead when doing the toe adjustment?

[@pathfinders4x477]

It will all self center when it's driven... but then you might need to straighten the steering wheel.

[@NicholasRiviera-Dr]

Not a dumb question, actually very important and should be considered the first step when doing toe adjustments. Steering wheel must be centred first. Depending on your car you could use the steering rack or pitman arm to ensure they are dead centre first.

[@aircomp]

Great video! Have you checked your measurements against a trusted alignment shop's measurements to test the accuracy? Hey, yours might be better actually. Lol.

[@hernanmurillo8925]

Whay tires are those? Are they loud on the highway?